, 1887-12-02
IN THIRTY MINUTES.
The Jury Acquits Watson and Lock-
wood on the Third Ballot.
Brilliant Arguments of Counsel for
Defense and the Territory.
The Discharged Men Are Congratu-
lated BY Friends.

Philip Watson and Jesse Lockwood are
once more free men. Again they breathe
the free air outside the frowning prison
walls, and are permitted to roam among
their fellow men with heads erect and
bearing in their hearts the conviction that
twelve good men have agreed with their
oft-repeated declaration, that they were
R~uiltless of completely with VIM. Mccoy
in the murder of Chas. Gum at Lusk
last January.
At the forenoon session of court the
examination of witnesses for the prosecu-
ton was completed, and followed by the
dispositions of those called to testify in
their defense. Then came the rebuttal
testimony of the prosecution, counsel for
the territory attempting to destroy the
evidence for Watson and Lockwood.
Prosecuting Attorney Stoll made the
opening argument for the people late in
the afternoon. 1t was a brief but able
effort, t~ersely summing up the evidence
and sagaciously selecting the portions
eliminating the prisoners at the bar.
Mr.. Stoll was followed by John A,
Riner for the defense. The talented
gentleman exercised fine discriminating
powers, in his apt and timely references
to evidence for the prosecution in favor
Of his clients. He dwelt at length upon
the fact that Watson and Lockwood were
both cuorp fri,nJs sc Dbo, G,-. III
rid;culed the idea that they should have
c%onspired with Mccoy to murder the dead
man.
Judge Lacey, also for the defense. was
the mex speaker. He treated the subject
in his characteristic adept manner, elabo-
rating upon every circumstance in favor
of the alleged accessories. Although the
ex-chief justice spoke but a short time he
said a great deal and succeeded in creating
a sentiment for his clients in the audi
ence.
Prosecutor Stolls closing argument was
a mastery speech. He referred to the
treachery of Mccoy and the cowardice he
exhibited in placing a bullet in the brain
of his PROSTATE and dying victim. He
made the most of the search of the es,
capped desperate and the prisoners for the
victim of the tragedy and the utterance of
Watson when twitted of the temerity of
Mccoy by Gum. In conclusion he Wv
idly referred to the actual crime and
seemed to remember and recall even the
least bit of evidence which would tend to
criminate Watson and Lockwood, not los
ing sight of the law points.
The charge delivered by Judge Corn,
the distinguished jurist who presided,
though quite lengthy, was couched in
language which could not be misinter-
preted.
At precisely $50 o'clock the jury re-
tired and half an hour later filed into
the court room alter forming a verdict de-
claring that Watson and Lockwood were
not guilty. There ballots were taken. The
first were ten for acquittal and one for
conviction, the second stood eleven for
acquittal and one for conviction, and the
Ihllu was uudulLlOuS III uCCldIllR Tue
innocence of the accused. Thos. B.
Adams, foreman, of the body, handed
the document to the clerk Of court who
read it as every ear III the audience was
strained to hear the decision. 1t was APP
parant that Watson and Lockwood were
laboring under great excl tement. They
were at a loss to eXpress their iov and
mutely grasped the hands of friends who
rushed forward to congratulate them upon
the result of the trial.
The evidence against the men was not
near so eliminating as had been antici-
pated. Witnesses who abused the men
shalnefully outside the court room would
say nothing against them when placed OIL
the stand.
The testimony of two witnesses for the
defense forever sets at rest the theory
that Mccoy prepared for flight prior to
killing Gum. One man swore to feeding
the horse on which the murderer escaped
a few minutes before the tragedy and
locking the door of the stable. Another
stated under oath that he observed Nc
Coy force an entrance to 'he barn and
take the horse therefrom.
As one of the jurors remarked after the
trial, this serious escapade would be a
warning to the men to avoid evil asso-
ciates.